Football
8 July, 2026
Dimboola take positives from Ararat test
It never gets any easier facing the ladder leaders, but compared to the first time Ararat and Dimboola played, it was clear on Saturday that the Roos have improved immensely from their earlier efforts this season.
When the sides lined up against each other in round two, Ararat claimed the win by 156 points - 28.13 (181) to 4.1 (25), but demonstrating their improvement internally since then, Saturday's final scores were 18.14 (122) to 5.3 (33), a margin of less than 90 points.
"It's never easy playing Ararat because they are a quality outfit," Dimboola coach Andrew Moore said.
"In terms of how they structure up, that's a credit to them, and they have been able to play with each other for many years, and that's why they have had the success."
Moore said he felt his side was a bit off in the first quarter of the clash on Saturday, but after that, he thought the side competed more, especially around the contest, and got a bit more of their ball movement going.
"Credit to them; they really hemmed us in and reduced the open space, which is something we were attempting to do," Moore reflected.
"We were able to do it in patches, but we weren't able to maintain it for the greater part of the match.
"On a positive note, they thumped us last time, but a 10-goal difference from round two to now it shows we have made development and progress, which is great, but we still have a long way to go."
Thomas ODwyer was the leading goal scorer, with three, for the Roos on Saturday, and has been consistent in finding the big sticks for the side over the last month.
"I thought he had a standout game, not only to hit the scoreboard, which was fantastic, but more so from a leadership point of view, he's coming out of his shell," Moore said.
"He's only young, but given the current situation, he is forced to speak up a bit more and drive the standards among the youngsters, and so I feel, even though he isn't a key forward, he's actually needing to play that role, and often he is competing against two or three other players.
"That can be difficult at times, but he is holding his own and is able to have an impact on games, which is pleasing."
Ashley Clugston and Riley McLaughlin were among the best on ground for Dimboola, and their coach was full of praise for their efforts.
"Clugston is the gift that keeps on giving," Moore said.
"He's a player I admire; the amount of footy he has played, and he can still stand up and put his body on the line and lead from the front.
"He had a big influence on the game, and don't get me wrong, there was plenty of ball coming in, but he really stood his own, and that is a credit to him, what he is able to do at his age and being able to back it up every week."
McLaughlin had a "run with" role on Ararat's Benny Taylor in the middle of the park for Dimboola, with Moore adding the aim was to curb his influence on the match.
"I thought he did that, Taylor still had his fair share of the ball, which is fine, but in terms of the dominance of possessions, we were able to nullify that in patches," Moore said.
"That's an area Riley thrives in, in terms of the challenge of a contest, but it was a good learning curve for him."
Looking ahead to this Saturday, Dimboola are on the road to play Warrack, and Moore is again expecting a challenging game.
"Where we are at now, we have come leaps and bounds in our development, and I am going into the game with an open mind and am excited for the challenge," the coach said.
"We'll be looking at areas we will focus on to reduce the impact they have, but it's a good opportunity for us to continually head in the right direction, not only in limiting that impact, but also in how we can get a win on the board.
Admitting the Eagles haven't been as consistent as they probably would have liked to have been this season, Moore said Dimboola will give it a red-hot crack.
The coach said it would come down to the intensity and physicality, along with their ball usage.
"If we turn the ball over at crucial times, it doesn't matter who is playing on their better players, good luck to them," Moore said.
"In saying that, Jackson Oneill will get a decent role, Clugston as well, he plays a floating half back role, and Hobbsy (Simon Hobbs) will be in the backline doing his thing.
"But there isn't any individual that can stop a player like (John) Jorgensen, it does need to be a bit more of a team look at it, and we are going to have to support one another, so while Jacko will get the main task, he will need help."